Chest Pain Awareness

Survive, Don’t Drive – Call 911

Even though it may be tempting to drive, please call 911. While the ambulance is taking you to the emergency room, the paramedics are taking an EKG, starting an IV, drawing blood, and alerting the emergency room. When you arrive you will go immediately to an ER bay. If your EKG in the ambulance shows a heart attack, the cath lab team will be activated. All this will happen BEFORE you arrive. So--------- SURVIVE. DON’T DRIVE. CALL 911!

Alarming Statistics

Heart disease causes approximately 1 of 4 deaths in the United States.

About 50% of sudden cardiac deaths occur outside a hospital. This suggests that many people don’t act on early warning signs.

Survey results show that only 27% of the respondents were aware of all major symptoms and knew to call 911.

By sharing Early Heart Attack Education (EHAC), we can change these sobering statistics!

Early Signs

Early signs and symptoms that can begin hours or days before a heart attack. You may or may not experience any or all of these symptoms. You may experience mild chest symptoms, such as pressure, burning, aching or tightness. These symptoms may come and go until finally becoming constant and severe.

Nausea

Pain that travels down one or both arms

Jaw pain

Fatigue

Anxiety

Chest pressure, squeezing or discomfort

Back pain

Shortness of breath

Feeling of fullness

Sleep disturbances including bouts of insomnia or trouble either getting to sleep or staying asleep

Indigestion

If you one or more of these symptoms, you owe it to yourself to get these symptoms checked out immediately at Valley View Medical Center's Emergency Department.

We are an accredited Chest Pain Center, certified by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care.